By BI: Penns Valley Area seventh-grade students in teacher Mike Durn’s (photo below) history class were asked to do a video project about Muhammad and the Islamic religion. Depicting the prophet Muhammad in a manner like this would get you beheaded in many Muslim countries, even today. I wonder if students will be allowed to include a scene like that in their videos?
Centre Daily Durn requested that students design “a video in which you will show, visually, the life of Muhammad, the development of Islam and its beliefs.”
The project would include a brief biography of Muhammad, the explanation of the five pillars of Islam and how Islam is connected to Judaism and Christianity.
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Durn declined to comment, but district administration contacted the CDT. Assistant Superintendent Sherri Connell said Durn’s ancient civilization class has board-approved curriculum that covers the Pennsylvania-approved history and government standards through the 1500s.
As with many courses in our school district, including health, biology, history and literature, we present information to students in a factual, unbiased manner and have them analyze the information so they are able to make informed decisions and develop educated opinions,” Connell said.
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“We then encourage our students to express their decisions and opinions in a thoughtful, articulate manner. Mr. Durn developed this project to help students demonstrate this skill.” But when the project was assigned, some parents publicly took to social media and unleashed controversial opinions.
“As with many courses in our school district, including health, biology, history and literature, we present information to students in a factual, unbiased manner and have them analyze the information so they are able to make informed decisions and develop educated opinions,” Connell said.
“There was outrage on Facebook and in the community, and we’re sorry it got to that level,” Allissa Meyer said. “It could have been done in a more effective manner, but at the same time appreciative to have a district that understands.”
Meyer has a daughter at Penns Valley Area High School who was assigned the project.
Here you go, students, use this as your guide:
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